This group
photo of the Service Company was taken during training at Camp
Shelby, Mississippi. Camp Shelby is located south of Hattisburg,
MS and was the camp where the 85th Infantry
Division
was formed and trained. Soldiers began to arrive and start their
training in April 1942, even though the 85th
Division
wasn't officially activated until May 15, 1942. This photo was taken of
Service
Company during their basic training. Each
Infantry Regiment had a Service
Company, an Anti-Tank Company and a Cannon Company
attached
to it for support. This photo includes 137 soldiers;
arranged in 7 rows of about 20 on each row.

The
photo
was divided into 3 composites. Each section can be viewed closer
to see faces. The composite was divided at the two gaps in the
front row.
Click on image to open up an enlarged photo. Then select "Return"
in your web browser
to return to this page.

1

2

3

Info on Section of the Photo

1
-
Soldier in
front
row holds a guidon marked with " 339 S" with crossed
rifles.
There was no company "S", so this represents Service Company.
2 - Banner
across bottom of photo reads: 'Service Company 339th Infantry
- Camp Shelby, Miss - March 1943' . In March 1943, the
85th Division left Camp Shelby for maneuvers in Louisana and then on to
desert training in California.
3 -
Bottom corner printed in white: - American Photo Co. Camp
Shelby.
This is the same company that printed a photo of the 310th Engineer
Company, also located on my webpage.

Sorry--
I have not identified anyone in this photo, yet. I will search
for
a roster of members of this company.

Uniform
Details
- All the soldiers are wearing the summer khaki uniform. The NCO's
are squatting along the front row, with the Officers standing in the
first row behind them. Each soldier wears the overseas cap with a
pin attached. This is probably the Distinguishing Unit Insignia
pin for 339th Infantry Regiment. The officers wear their rank
insignia on their cap and on their shirt collar. THey wear the shoulder patch for the 85th
Custer Division. One
individual of interst is the 3rd person on the first row from the
right. He seems to be in uniform and wearing an officer's
overseas cap with dark piping. But he wears his "CD" divisional
patch on his left breast pocket. Unlike the officers, he wears no
rank insignia. He is an old gentleman and probably called from
retirement to train these men.